The city of Philadelphia has a new police commissioner, and she’s a Black woman.

On Monday, Mayor Jim Kenney named Danielle Outlaw as the new head of the city police department, making her the first African-America woman to hold the position. Outlaw, former police chief of Portland, Oregon, is now in charge of the fourth-largest police department in the U.S., with 6,300 sworn officers, according to the agency’s website.

In her new role as Philadelphia police commissioner, Danielle Outlaw said she will work on tackling crime and gun violence in the city. (Photo: Mark Makela/Getty Images)

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“I think constantly about what it takes to be a police officer,” Kenney said in a statement. “I am appointing Danielle Outlaw because I am convinced she has the conviction, courage, and compassion needed to bring long-overdue reform to the Department. After meeting and speaking with her at length, I came away confident that Danielle Outlaw possesses the strength, integrity, and empathy vital to the tasks ahead.”

Outlaw’s appointment concluded an extensive four-month search in which over 30 candidates were considered, including several from within the department.

Kenney wrote that “while I have tremendous respect for our officers, the Philadelphia Police Department needs reform.”

Source: Meet Danielle Outlaw, Philadelphia’s First Black Woman Police Commissioner

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